Mechanism for testing watch-balances and hair-springs



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9.3. HUNTER. 4 MECHANISM FOR TESTING WATCH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS. No. 490,202.

Patented Jan. 17, 1893.

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G. 'E. HUNTER. 4 MECHANISM FOR TESTING WATCH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS.-

No. 490,202. Patented Jan.'17, 1893.

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MECHANISM FOR TESTING WATCH BALANGES AND HAIR SPRINGS.

No. 490,202. Patented Jan. 17, 1893.

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G,E.HUNTER. MECHANISM FOR TESTING WATCH BALANCES AND HAIR SPRINGS.

No. 490,202. Patented Jan. 17, 1893.

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Patented Jan. 17. 1893.

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No. 490,202.. Patented Jan. 17, 1893.

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G. E. HUNTER. MEGH'AN ISM FOR TESTING'WATGH BALANCESAND HAIR 81911151618.- 'Nu'. 490,202. Patented Jai 17, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT rricn.

GEORGE E. HUNTER, OF ELGIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELGIN NATIONAL XVATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MECHANISM FOR TESTING WATCH-BALANCES AND HAIR-SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 490,202, dated January 17, 1893.

Application filed July 2, 1892- Sorial No. 4 381778- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HUNTER, of Elgin, in the county of Kane, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Mechanism for TestingWatclnBalances and Hair-Springs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a plan view of my apparatus in which is shown the relative arrangement of parts and the electric circuits connecting the same; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the vibrator employed; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the operating mechanism of the same, the top of the casing being removed; Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of said vibrator upon line w so of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same upon lino w m, of Figs. 3 and 4:; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the balance arbor and shows the arrangement of parts when hair springs are to be tested; Fig. 7 is a plan view in outline of the locking and re- 2 5 leasing mechanisms when the vibrating mechanism is locked from motion. Fig. 8 is alike view of the same after the balance staff has been released; Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the contact springs which are en- 0 gaged by the contact pin of the balance staff; Figs. 10 and 11 are, respectively, views of the locking plate of the fourth arbor and of the detent actuated thereby, separated; Fig. 12 is a plan View of the mechanism used foract- 5 uating the pawl-shaft; Figs. 13 and let are, respectively, front and side elevations of the same; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the registering mechanism preferably used; Fig. 16 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 17 is a plan view of said mechanism from the upper side with the top of the casing removed; Fig. 1Sis aplan view of the lower side of the same; Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section upon line y. y. of Figs. 16,17, and 18; Fig. 20 is a plan viewin 5 outline of the arresting and releasing mechanism when occupying its normal or locked position; Fig. 21 is a like view of the same when the registering train is free to move; Fig. 22

is a section upon line 3 1}" of Fig ls and shows the lockingdcvice in engagementwith the main wheel of the register train; Fig. 23

is a like view of the same showing said device when released by the hands-setting le ver before setting the hands to zero; Fig. 24

is a perspective viewof the polarized relay employed; Fig. 25 is aplan view of the same; Fig. 26 is a front elevation of said relay. Fig. 27 is a side elevation of the same; Fig.

28 is a plan of the electric circuit connecting the clock with the magnet coils of the vibrator to release the balance and permit the same to vibrate; Fig. 29 is a like view of the circuit which enables the vibrator to set in operation the register; Fig. 30 is a plan view of the circuit through the clock and relay, and-Fig. 31 is a like view of the circuit through which the clock operates the register.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

My invention relates to the timing and ad- 7o justing of watch balances and hair spring before the same are placed in watch movements, and such invention consists in the apparatus employed, substantially as for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the carrying of my invention into practice there is necessary a mechanism for vibrating a balance, or hair spring, an indicating or registering mechanism, a time mechanism and certain electrical appliances whereby 8c the said mechanisms may be placed in operation and caused to co-opera-te so as to furnish accurate data as to the act-ion of the parts being tested.

The time mechanism, which is preferably a standard clock, and the vibrating mechanism. are each electrically connected by independent circuits with the indicating mechanism in such manner that either may set the latterin operation according to which first closes the circuit connecting it with such mechanism; or so that either will be efiective to set said mechanismin operation should both circuits be closed simultaneously. The clockcontrolled circuit is always closed at the ex- 3 piration of a predetermined interval of time, preferably a minute, while the vibrator-controlled circuit is olosed when the balance or spring being tested makes the number of vibrations that a perfect balance or spring to:

would make in such interval. If, therefore, the" balance or spring undergoing test be perfeet, the two circuits will be closed simultaneously; if it be slow, then the vibrator controlled circuit will be closed after the closing of the clock-controlled circuit, while if it be fast, the vibrator controlled circuit will be closed first.

The vibrating mechanism is contained within a casing that is composed of a base section A and a top section A that fits upon and is secured to the same, such casing having top, bottom and sides, and rounded ends. Midway between the base and top sections, A and A, respectively, is a plate B which is arranged parallel with said parts and between the same and said base are journaled the parts of an ordinary time train that consists of a main arbor C that has a toothed wheel within said lower section, extends through said plate and has its upper end jonrnaled in a bridge K that is secured upon the latter.

When used for testing balances, the staff I is provided with a standard hair spring L that is located below the bridge K, and upon its upper pivot carries a crotch i that is adapted to receive a balance M, and support the same in proper position, when it becomes a part of and completes the time train. When the vibrator is employed for testing hair springs a standard balance 'is secured upon said staff below said bridge, and the upper end of thelatter ad apted to receive ahair spring L.

When a spring or balance has been placed in position it is desired that the balance staff should be capable of instant vibration, and that when it has vibrated a predetermined number of times, it shall complete an electric circuit at the point from which it started. To effect this thereis secured to said staff, above the plate B, a radial pin 1', and within the plane of vibration of such pin are two flat springs N and N that are secured upon one end of a lever O which is pivoted near its opposite end and is adapted to be moved upon its pivot so as to cause said springs to be placed within the track of said pin, or to remove them from such track. Said springs are the terminals of an electric circuit and are arranged with their outer ends nearly parallel and separated by a distance less than the diameter of said pin so that when they are moved inward, the latter will pass between and engage with said springs, closing the circuitand arresting the motion of the balance staff.

The lever O is held normally in position to arrest motion of the balance staff I by means of a springP that is arranged to engage with and press out-ward upon its rear end, but is moved to the opposite limit of its motion by means of a shaft Q which is journaled vertically within the base section A and plate B and at its upper end is provided with a pawl q that whensuch shaft is rotated in one direction is adapted to engage with the rear end of said lever and move the sameinward, while when said shaft is rotated in an opposite direction said pawl will trip over said lever end. Said shaft is held at the rearward limit of its rotary motion by means of a radially arranged spring q, and is moved in an opposite direction by an armature g which is secured radially upon the shaft and is acted upon by two electro-magnets R and R that are suitably arranged with reference thereto. When the lever O has been moved to position to release the balance staff, it is locked in such position by means of a detent S that is pivoted upon a bridge T near the center or fourth arbor F and at one end is provided with anotch s which is adapted to engage with a pin 0 that projects upward from said lever. The shape of the notch is such as to cause the pin to automatically move said detent into position for engagement as said lever is turned to release the balance staff. At the completion of the predetermined number of vibrations of the balance staff the detent S is released from engagement with the pin 0 and the lever O automatically returns to its normal position and thus causes the springs N and N to engage with the pin 2' and arrest the motion of said stafi. Such release is effected by means of a plate U which is secured upon and rotates with the fourth arbor F and is provided with a pin a, that at the desired instant, engages with a similar pin 8 upon said detent and moves the latter in the direction necessary for disengagement from said pin 0. At the instant when the lever 0 returns to its normal position a shoulder u upon the plate U engages with'a lug 0 .upon said lever and operates to arrest the motion of the time train and to thus relieve the balance stafi from all injurious shock or strain. In order that the engagement between said plate and lever may be effected at the precise instant desired, a cylindrical plate V is fastened upon the arbor Fupon which said plateU is fitted so as to embrace about threefourths of its periphery and be held thereon by friction. One side of the plate Uis made open as shown,and is provided with two arms a and a between which is placed a screw W that has its ends in engagement with the contiguous faces of said ends and its threaded body contained within a threaded lug u which is formed'upon and extends radially from said plate V. As thus arranged by turning said screw it will be moved lengthwise through said boss and cause said plateU to be turned upon said plate V so as to change the position of the shoulder a with relation to the arbor F. The springs N and N, not only act as stops to arrest the motion of the balance arbor, but also as circuit closers, for which purpose the lower spring is insulated from the other and connected electrically with an insulated binding post X by a wire a, while the upper spring is secured directly upon the lever O and through the same and the casing, or by any usual means, is in connection with a second binding post X. As thus arranged it will be seen that when the pin '5 passes between the ends of said springs an electric connection is instantly produced.

The registering mechanism is inclosed within a casing Y which has the form shown in Figs. 15, lfi and 17 and is supported and secured upon a hollow base Z that'in turn rests upon and is attached to a bench or-other suitable support. \Vithin said casing is journaled a vertical, hollow arbor A which upon its upper end carries a hand a that by the rotation of said arbor will be caused to move over a circular dial B which is secured upon the upper side of the casing and is provided with fifty equal divisions b, 19, 85c. Within said hollow arbor is journaled an arbor C which extends downward into the hollow base Z and upon its upper end has secured a hand 0 that is longer than said hand a and when said arbor is rotated travels over a second series of divisions b, l), (he, numbered from one to one hundred which are provided upon said dial.

J ournaled at one side of and parallel with the arbors A andO' is an arbor D that carries a toothed wheel (1 and a pinion d, the first of which parts meshes with and receives motion from a pinion c that is secured upon said arbor C, while said pinion d meshes with and imparts motion to a toothed wheel a which is carried by said arbor A the relative dimensions of said pinions and wheels being such as to cause the shorter hand a to move forward one degree for each complete rotation of the longer hand 0.

The engagement between the pinion c and the arbor C and the wheel a and the arbor A is produced by friction so that each arbor is capable of being independently turned in order to set the hands at zero. This is effected by means of two heart-shaped cams a and c which are secured, respectively, upon said arbors A and O and are simultaneously acted upon by the arms e and e of a lever E that is journaled within the casing and operated by means of a knob c that projects through a slot 3 in the upper side of the casing Y.

i The register mechanism is driven by any suitable motor through the arbor O for which purpose there is secured to thelower projecting end of the latter a toothed wheel 0 that is adapted to be engaged by an intermediate toothed wheel F which is pivoted upon one end of a pivoted bar G and is in constant engagement with a motor driven wheel H the arrangement being such as to enable said wheels 0 and F to be engaged or disengaged by the movement of said bar upon its pivotal bearing. The bar G is by means of a spring g held normally in such position as to cause the wheels 0 and F to be disengaged and is moved in an opposite direction by means of an armature I which is secured to an arm 9 that extends laterally from said bar. Said armature is moved by means of an electromaguet K in the usual way, but for purposes hereinafter stated, each coil of such magnet is made double so that when currents of electricity having equal strength are passing at the same time and in opposite directions through each wire they will neutralize each other and produce no magnetism, but if one current is interrupted, then the other current will act with full effect and the armature will be attracted.

It is necessary that the registering mechanism shall be locked from movement when not intentionally caused to operate, for which purpose there is employed a detent L that is arranged to be moved vertically into and out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel 0 of the arbor Cand by spring pressure, is held normally at the upper limit of its motionin engagement with said wheel. When the hands are being set at zero, said detent is moved out of engagement by me'ansof an inclined portion of the arms 6 of the cam lever E which arm passes over the end of said detent and moves the same downward just before the impinging of the arm 2 upon the cam 0 As soon as said cam lever is released and returns to its normal position said detent automatically engages again with said wheel c A laterally adjustable clamp Z engages with said detent and enables it to be moved so as to cause it to exactly coincide with the teeth of said wheel. To permit of the disengagement of said detent at the instant a connection is made between the motor and registering mechanism, it is secured upon, and supported by the arm g of the bar G, and with such arm is moved horizontally away from the wheel 0 by the action of the electro-maguet upon the armature I.

In order that it may be indicated which of the two currents sets the registering mechanism into operation, there is pivoted at one end within one end of the casing y a bar M which upon its opposite, free end carries a plate or dial m that by movement of said lever upon its pivotal hearing may be caused to move horizontally to a limited distance beneath a glazed opening y in the top of said casing. Upon such dial are the conventional signs for the terms plus and minus and and by the movement of said bar to the limit of its motion in one direction one of said signs will be brought into sight, while when the bar is in its other position, the other sign is in view. Two electro-magnets N and N act upon the bar M one of which magnets is placed upon each side thereof near its pivoted end and opposite to an armature. Each of these coils forms part of one of the' electric circuits of the magnet K and it will be obvious that, whichever one (N or N receives the current first, it will be able to hold the bar M in opposition to the magnetism in- 

